Power mechanism



J. R. \ETTER.

POWER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1915.

1,1 95,665. Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

WITNESSES: l nvmvma- A TTOR/VEY.

vnr NORRIS PETERS co,Pn0m-LIH10- WASHINGTON. n c,

arena @FFTCE.

JACOB R. ETTER, 0F GRAWFORIDSVILLE, INDIANA.

POWER MECHANISM.

Application filed June 26, 1915. Serial No. 36,524.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAcoB R. E'r'rER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crawfordsville, in the county of Montgorncry and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Power Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to the class of engine that may be adapted to be actuated by means of steam or any other motive force exerted on a reciprocatory rod or machine element, the invention having reference more particularly to mechanism for converting reciprocatory motion into rotary motion and thereby developing power for useful application.

An object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism of the above-mentioned character that shall be so constructed as to be capable oftransmitting power from a reciprocatory element to a rotary element uniformly and as nearly continuously as may be possible and operate smoothly.

Another and more specific object is to provide an improved reciprocating engine that shall be so constructed as to enable the piston rod to exert its power uniformly throughout its stroke to a rotary shaft from which the power may be transmitted.

With the above-mentioned and other ob-' jects in view the invention consists in machinery elements comprising a reciprocatory actuating element, a rotary element, means for enabling the reciprocatory element during a stroke in one direction to transmit rotary movement to the rotary element and during its movement in the opposite direction to continue the rotary movement at a uniform rate throughout the strokes, means for controlling thereciprocatory element during its reversal of direction of movement, and means for enabling the rotary element to control the movement of the reciprocatory element. synchronously following discontinuance of the application of power to the reciprocatory element, and during the continuance of movement of the rotary element, due to stored energy or momentum.

The invention consists also further in the novel parts, and in the combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of mechanism constructed substantially in accordance with the invention and as applied to a steam-engine of which the cylinder is in central section; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line A A on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan, partially in section, showing parts of the mechanism in positions different to that in Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the devices preferably comprising a part of the mechanism; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation on the plane of the axis of the rotary element of the mechanism,

the parts being in the position corresponding to those in Fig. 3; and, Fig. 6 is a side view of the rotary element showing the element in inverted position relative to that shown in Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters on the different figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to in detail.

. The invention contemplates the actuation of the reciprocatory element by various means, the application of the improved mechanism to a steam-engine however being convenient for the purpose of fully and clearly describing the principle and mode of operation of the invention. A suitable frame is provided and may conveniently comprise a bed-plate 1 having a head portion 2 that is higher than the remaining portion. A suitable power cylinder 3 is mounted upon the head portion of the bed-plate and has ports 4 and 5 in opposite end portions respectively for the admission of steam or compressed air to actuate a piston 6 that is movable in the cylinder and provided with a rod 7 that extends through one end of the cylinder. The frame comprises also upright members 8 and 9 that are secured upon the bed-plate and to which guide-bars 10 and 11 are secured so as to extend parallel to the piston rod, in the present case being horizontal. A suitable cross-head 12 is slidingly mounted on the guide-bars and connected to the piston rod 7. The lower portion of the cross-head in the present case is provided with a roller 13 which has a vertical axis. A novel rotary element is provided which comprises essentially a novel form of curved track adapted to be acted mounted in the member 8 and a journal shaft 16 rotatably mounted in and extending through the member 9 of the frame, the cylinder being below the guide-bars and having a groove 01' channel in its periphery to constitute the track into which the roller 13 extends.

The groove comprises a portion 17 that extends from one side of one end portion of the cylinder spirally through one-fourth of the circumference to the middle of the length of the peripheral portion of the cylinder; a portion 18 that extends from the portion 17 and continues spirally through the succeeding one-fourth of the circumference to the opposite end portion of the cylinder; another portion 19 that extends at an acute angle to the portion 18 spirally in reverse direction from said opposite end portion of the cylinder through the succeeding one-fourth of the circumference to the middle of the length of the peripheral portion of the cylinder; and still another portion 20 that extends from the portion 19 spirally through the remaining one-fourth of the circumference of the cylinder to the beginning of the portion 17, intersecting the latter at an acute angle. The portions 21 and 22 of the groove are slightly broader than the remaining portions thereof to afford clearance for the roller 13 when the direction of movement of the cross-head occurs. In the simple form of the rotary element the reversing point for the cross-head, as at 21, is on one side and the other revers ing point, as at 22, on the opposite side of the cylinder. As illustrated, the roller 13 moves, for instance at the beginning of its stroke, from the portion 21 along the portions 17 and 18 to the portion 22, and causes one-half of a revolution of the cylinder, returning along the portions 19 and 20 on re verse movement of the piston. The cylinder will acquire momentum that will rotate it slightly when the roller is at the portions 21 and 22. In order to continue the synchronous movement of the cross-head and permit the momentum to rotate the cylinder following the shutting off of the steam or other motive force various devices may be provided, one form of which comprises a reversing-screw which may conveniently be formed as a cylinder 23 having a journal 2 1 rotatably mounted in the frame member 8, and a journal shaft 25 similarly mounted in and extending through the member 9 and provided with a gear wheel 26 that is engaged by a gear wheel 27 which is secured to the shaft 16, the diameter of the wheel 27 being in the present case four times that of the wheel 26, so that the cylinder 23 shall rotate four times while the cylinder 14 makes one complete revolution. The crosshead 12 is provided with a projection 28 provided with a suitable contact device which preferably comprises a head 29 having a shank 3O rotatably mounted in the projection 28. The cylinder 23 is provided with screw-threads which in the present case are in the form of right and left hand thread grooves 31 and 32 intersecting or con nected together at the two end portions respectively of the cylinder, as at 33 and 34 on one side of the cylinder, the grooves crossing each other in their spiral course in the periphery of the cylinder. The head 29 extends into the screw-threads and is led thereby along the cylinder longitudinally thereof first in one direction and back in the opposite direction synchronously with the rotation of the cylinder 14, so that when there is no force exerted directly on the rod 7 to cause rotation of the cylinder 14 the latter may be rotated by means of the screwthreads of the cylinder 23 and the cross head, the latter being controlled by the screw-threads so as to be moved to prevent obstruction of the movement of the cylinder 14.

In some cases for convenient transmission of motion a shaft 35 is rotatably mounted in the frame at right angles to the shaft 16 and is provided with a bevel gear wheel 36 that is in mesh with a like gear wheel 37 that is secured to the shaft 16 so that the shaft 35 is rotated at equal speed. The shaft 16 is provided with a suitable fly-wheel 38 which may be suitably adapted to serve as a driving wheel for transmitting motion. The shaft 35 may be provided with a pulley or Wheel 39 for transmitting motion. The shaft 35 is provided also'with a crank arm 40 having a crank pin 11 to which a connecting-rod 42 is suitably connected, the latter being connected to a Wrist-pin 4.3 with which the cross-head 12 is provided, so that during a complete forward and return movement or cycle of the cross-head the crank-shaft makes one complete revolution; and in some cases this mechanism may be adopted for controlling the reversal of the reciprocatory element and moving the latter in synchronism with the rotary element when the latter must continue to move by the force of momentum; in such case the reversing screw appliance being dispensed with.

It should be understood that various modifications may be made in the structural details within the scope of the appended claims, the form of structure illustrated not being arbitrary but serving rather for disclosing broadly the principle, function, and mode of operation involved in the invention.

In practical use the cross-head 12 or reciprocatory element is in the present case actuated by the piston 6 through the means of the rod 7 and controlled motive fluid in the cylinder 8, the piston being moved alternatively in opposite directions and controlled by suitable valves and gearing obviously necessary but not shown. The motion of the crosshead at the end of its strokes is smoothly stopped without shock by either or both of the mechanisms described, one or the other of the mechanisms being sufficient for the purpose, the reversing screw mechanism being preferable. During each stroke of the reciprocatory element the actuating force is applied to the rotary element in a uniform degree throughout the length of the stroke, the cross-head exerting a powerful force on the spiral track as against a wedge to rotate the cylinder, so that the cylinder is rotated at a very uniform rate and in an economical manner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Power mechanism including a reciprocatory element having a contact device, a rotary element provided with a series of tracks extending spirally in alternately reversed directions about the axis of rotation of the element to be alternately engaged by the contact device, and means connecting the elements for controlling the movement of the reciprocatory element.

2. Power mechanism including a rotary element having tracks extending longitudinally to and fro and spirally in contrary directions alternatively about the axis of rotation of the element, a reciprocatory element adapted for movable connection alternatively with the tracks, and a movable reversing device having controlling connection with the reciprocatory element and geared to the rotary element.

3. Power mechanism including a rotary element having tracks extending longitudinally to and fro and spirally in contrary directions alternatively about the axis of r0- tation of the element, a reciprocatory element adapted for movable engagement al- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ternatively with the tracks, and means connecting the elements synchronously for controlling the movement of the reciprocatory element.

4. Power mechanism including a rotary element having a series of longitudinally extending contact portions spirally arranged about the axis of rotation of the element in alternatively reversed directions, a reciprocatory element cooperating alternatively with the contact portions for revolving the rotary element, and a rotatable reversing screw geared to the rotary element and having operative controlling connection with the reciprocatory element.

5. Power mechanism including a reciprocatory element, a rotary element provided with a plurality of tracks extending spirally about the axis of rotation of the rotary element and alternately having connection with the reciprocatory element, the tracks extending spirally in one direction on one side of the axis of rotation and in the opposite direction on the opposite side of the axis of rotation, and means geared to the rotary element having connection with the reciprocatory element for controlling the movement of the two elements synchronously.

6. Power mechanism including a rotary element having a series of longitudinally extending contact portions spirally arranged about the axis of rotation of the element in alternatively reverse directions, a reciprocatory element cooperating alternatively with the contact portions for revolving the rotary element, a crank shaft geared to the rotary element and having a crank device, and a rod connected with the crank device and the reciprocatory element for controlling the reciprocatory element in synchronism with the rotary element.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB R. ETTER. Witnesses:

E. T. SILVIUs, M. E. SPARROW.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G. 

